Things to Do in Charleston, South Carolina, for Couples

Charleston, South Carolina, is a very romantic city. Whether you’re there for fine dining or a more casual date night, this beautiful southern gem has enough to offer no matter your traveling style as a couple.

I’d go so far as to call it ideal for honeymoons thanks to all of the delicious and historic pursuits of downtown Charleston. Proximity to the spas, golf, and beaches on nearby Kiawah Island helps.

This guide digs into everything we love to do in Charleston as a couple to help you plan your next romantic getaway.

Quick Tips for Your Charleston Visit

Your Flight: To get to Charleston, you’ll fly into Charleston International Airport. Use Skyscanner to watch flights. Love deals? Subscribe to Going.

Your Accommodations: I’ll include recommendations along the way, but browse Booking.com or Hotels.com for more options. Vrbo is my Airbnb alternative.

Your Ride: Charleston has public transit, but you may want a car if you’re planning any travel outside of the city. Book a rental car ahead of time.

Top Spots: Stroll Waterfront Park, explore the gardens near the Battery, or book a ghost tour for the best time with your honey.

Disclosure: Travel on the Reg uses affiliate links to keep things running around here. At no additional cost to you, I earn a lil’ commission if you make a purchase. Any income earned supports the upkeep of this site. I appreciate you!

Find your favorite square.

Charleston’s squares don’t just make excellent photo stops. They’re great for a picnic, chat with your honey, or a scenic environment to gaze into each other’s eyes.

Brian and I would probably just be on our phones, to be honest, but that’s just how comfy we are with one another.

Here are a few Charleston squares that I love:

  • Washington Park: This one was changed from City Hall Park to Washington Square in honor of good ol’ George Washington in 1881. You’ll find a sculpture to his honor and a smaller replica of the Washington Monument.
  • Marion Square: This large downtown park also went through an identity crisis. It was once known as Citadel Green. If you visit April through November, the square hosts a Saturday farmer’s market.
  • Wragg Square: This one is often overlooked for Marion Square nearby, but that just means it might feel a little more private than the others. Walk the shady Wragg Mall for a quick stroll.

Kiss underneath those moss-covered trees.

So this isn’t really a destination more than a vibe while you’re in Charleston. Those old oak trees with that dripping Spanish moss just do something to a girl, you know?

You’ll find the trees all over town, whether you’re downtown or further afield. For true natural splendor, though, take the drive down to the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.

Fun fact: You don’t even need to visit the place to appreciate the tree-lined drive on the way over.

Make some promises at Waterfront Park.

The pineapple fountain in Charleston

Waterfront Park’s pride and joy is the Pineapple Fountain, the site of many an Instagram photo. Yes, the fountain is charming. Walking along the Charleston Harbor is even better.

Keep your eyes out for diving pelicans and dolphins with the backdrop of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge.

Get creative at Charleston’s art museums.

Artsy couples will love Charleston’s art scene. If you time your visit over the right long weekend, the Charleston Gallery Association hosts monthly art walks on the first Friday of every month.

Otherwise, hit one of the Charleston’s best art museums:

  • Gibbes Museum of Art: This art museum hosts special exhibitions throughout the year, ensuring your repeat visits are always a little bit different. Buy tickets online to save some time upon arrival at the gallery.
  • Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art: This gallery operates out of the School of the Arts at the College of Charleston. If you’re a couple on a budget looking for cheaper things to do while you’re here, this one is free.
  • City Gallery at Waterfront Park: This gallery is also free, and conveniently located a short walk from the pineapple fun of Waterfront Park. See contemporary art from visiting artists across the southeastern United States.

Take a carriage ride.

A horse-drawn carriage in Charleston

I don’t want to bum you out in a post about romance, but my first experience with Charleston’s carriage tours was on a solo visit my first time visiting the city.

It was a great way to get a brief history of Charleston, if not a little sad as you’ll likely be surrounded by couples. They were all having a great time, though.

READ MORE: Dealing with limited time in Charleston? Check out my one-day itinerary.

Hit the beach.

There are quite a few stretches of sand for you and your love to call your own on a trip to Charleston. Check out the best beaches in Charleston if you’re seeking romantic things to do in the hotter months:

  • Folly Beach: This is Charleston’s most popular beach. You’ll have access to six miles of shoreline here, with easy access from downtown Charleston. The breaks here are popular with surfers, too.
  • Sullivan’s Island: Sullivan’s Island is Charleston’s smallest beach, but it’s still popular with locals who know that size isn’t all that matters. Expect pristine sand and few crowds. Access Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse, or Charleston Light, from here.
  • Isle of Palms: Just 12 miles from downtown Charleston, Isle of Palms is popular with fancy folks who like a side of golf and amenities with their beach activities. There may be some restrictions when you visit depending on the sea turtle activity.

Promenade near the Battery.

The gardens near the Battery in Charleston

A defensive seawall doesn’t usually signal romance, but the Battery in Charleston is a great place to start for a romantic stroll. You’ll find White Point Gardens from here. It’s a delightful spot for a picnic and some dreaming about those old antebellum homes.

I’m thinking this is all old money over here.

Get a little spooky on a ghost tour.

I went on a Charleston ghost tour on my first visit to the city. Disclaimer: I LOVE ghost tours. They’re usually cheesy, often informative, but always fun. Much like nearby Savannah, Georgia, Charleston is full of good ghost lore.

Fun fact: If this kind of Charleston date night idea sounds right up your alley, you’ll probably also enjoy the Old Charleston Jail.

Not sure where to start in planning your night of spookiness? Check out these highly-rated options:

Visit a brewery or two.

A woman sips on a beer at a Charleston brewery.

I can’t leave most cities without checking out their brewery scene, and Charleston has a poppin’ one. Here are a few of our faves:

  • Snafu Brewing Company: This place has delicious sours, but their tasting room is so fun. They have lots of games, including Mario Kart, ping pong, and pinball machines.
  • Holy City Brewing: Hit this one after Quarterman Park for tasters, live music, and bar food. If you’re still hungry after, fish ’n chips are available at The CODFather.
  • Palmetto Brewing Co.: Visit Charleston’s oldest brewery at this warehouse taproom. If you’re hungry, order any of their burgers or The Cluck Cluck.

Sip on wine in Charleston’s best wine bars.

South Carolina isn’t known for its wine, but that doesn’t mean its wine scene isn’t impressive. The city is spoiled with experienced sommeliers and wine bars that serve up delicious pours of all of your favorite varietals.

Here are a few of the city’s best wine bars for your next Charleston date night:

  • Graft Wine Shop: This wine shop takes a more casual approach to wine, offering wines at any price point. Chips, cheese, and tin fish are available on their snack menu. Restaurant pop-ups are common if you want something more substantial.
  • Stems & Skins: Enjoy carefully chosen wine, craft cocktails, and Mediterranean small plates at this wine bar. This one has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation for its wine program.
  • Avondale Wine & Cheese: I grew up in Avondale, Chicago, so had to include this little shop on my list for the name alone. Enjoy the obvious here: wine and cheese. Check their social media pages for themed wine-tasting events.

Enjoy peace and quiet in Mount Pleasant.

A woman plays in a treehouse in Mount Pleasant.

I have friends who recently moved to Mount Pleasant, so I got to experience a bit of the softer side of things while visiting them there.

You’ll be close to Boone Hall, but you’ll also have easy access to Pitt Street Bridge, Palmetto Islands County Park, and the Old Village Historic District.

It all feels a little bit suburban, but the traffic is easier to navigate and you’re still close to all the goods of downtown Charleston.

For a quick leg stretcher, don’t miss the Marsh View Trail, an easy trek of under a mile along a salt marsh. If I can do it with toddlers, you can do it with your honey.

Sail on the Charleston Harbor.

If you love a good boating adventure, sails on the Charleston Harbor are lauded as an excellent date activity while in Charleston.

Note: I’m generally dealing with seasickness on any kind of watercraft — I’ve even managed to get sick while snorkeling — but maybe you’re not as fragile.

To book your harbor cruise in advance, check out the highly-rated options below:

Meet the fairytale Angel Oak.

A view of the Angel Oak in Charleston

All of the signage surrounding the Angel Oak messes with the mood somewhat, but you really need to see this thing to believe it. The old tree is over 60 feet tall with a canopy that dwarfs anything else you’ll see in town.

You’ll need to head out to Johns Island to check this one out. If you’re traveling as a couple with a pet, Fido will need to stay behind the signage. It was quite busy during our visit on a weekday, so I’d caution against a Saturday date for this one.

Learn about Charleston’s history at its museums.

Knowledge is sexy, even when it involves the Civil War. Charleston has a number of great museums that are a great way to kick off a day date in the city:

  • The Charleston Museum: Explore Lowcountry artifacts at one of the oldest museums in the country. Purchase a combo ticket to see the two historical homes under the Charleston Museum umbrella.
  • Friends of the Hunley: Visit the H. L. Hunley, a combat submarine, on a weekend tour. The Confederate submarine was the first successful combat sub, sinking the Housatonic, a Union vessel.
  • International African American Museum: This museum traces Black history in South Carolina back to the African Diaspora. The imagery is powerful and important.

Fort Sumter is also worth a trip for history buffs. Located in Charleston Harbor, the historic site is where the first shots of the Civil War were fired in 1861. You’ll need to take a ferry to get to its well-preserved ruins.

Share a tasting at High Wire Distilling.

A distillery in Charleston

We’ve spent quite a bit of time in Louisville, Kentucky, learning that we lack the brain chip of people who like bourbon. That doesn’t mean I won’t keep trying to develop an appreciation for the stuff.

High Wire Distilling Co. offers tasters of bourbon and other spirits, including a pretty good vodka. I’m Polish. I know my vodka. The place also does tours, but we didn’t time our visit right.

Hear the classics at the Charleston Gaillard Center.

The Charleston Gaillard Center is the place to go for live music across genres. See some Lowcountry jazz, country, or the Charleston Symphony in this grand theater. It’s also the place to go for musicals that come through town.

Walk amongst the flowering trees at Hampton Park.

A couple takes a selfie in a park in Charleston.

Brian and I went to this lovely park after a round at the distillery, so trying to test out the workout equipment here was pretty hilarious. You’re here for romance, though. Be gentle with yourself and stroll the pond with its saucy geese.

See the views of the Morris Island Lighthouse.

The Morris Island Lighthouse, or Morris Island Light, looks over the southern end of Charleston Harbor. There is no public access inside, but easy trails will give you photo access from a distance.

The Morris Island Lighthouse trail is under a mile with no elevation gain to views of the lighthouse and all kinds of birdlife. Leave the pup at home, though. This one isn’t dog-friendly.

Take a plantation tour.

The outside of a plantation in Charleston

I’m not a fan of plantation tours that whitewash history no matter how pretty the grounds are. There’s nothing romantic about strolling through a version of history you know isn’t true.

That’s why I do my research before visiting plantations in the South, whether I’m traveling in a couple or solo.

Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens does a decent job of recognizing what occurred here with its slave cabin exhibits and Gullah cultural presentations.

Most visitors come here thanks to the plantation’s link to The Notebook. If you’ve seen it, you may recognize the house as the summer home of Allie’s rich family.

That’s all well and good, but if you go, don’t miss out on the Black history components so you have an understanding of the rest of the grounds.

Tours of the main house are available on a timed basis. If you’re interested in a tour, visit the welcome center to get on the list as soon as you arrive at the plantation.

You won’t get much about the slave history on that tour, but the house as it currently sits has only been on the property since the 1930s.

You won’t be able to miss Avenue of the Oaks along the main drive as you approach the plantation, but it may be easier to snap your photos on foot. Nature walks around the pond at the back of the house offer space to discuss with your honey after your tour.

Charleston is home to a number of additional plantations that you can tour at your leisure. I can’t say much about historical accuracy at these, as I haven’t been. Explore at your own risk:

  • Drayton Hall
  • Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
  • McLeod Plantation Historic Site
  • Middleton Place

Visit the Cypress Gardens.

This nature preserve and swamp is about 45 minutes north of downtown Charleston in Moncks Corner. The gardens here used to operate as a private freshwater reserve for nearby plantation Dean Hall.

Today, it’s popular with couples seeking a paddle boat adventure. Expect gators in the warm months.

READ MORE: Love a good nature preserve? Congaree National Park is an underrated beauty in these parts.

Plan a day on Kiawah Island.

A man gets ready to play some golf in South Carolina.

Kiawah Island is the ultimate day trip around these parts. If the two of you golf, it doesn’t get much better than The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. If one of you is an avid golfer and the other one is more into couples massages, hit the spa solo, instead. 

It’s all waiting for you in just under an hour from Charleston on your southern road trips.

Note: Continue along the coast and you’ll hit Hilton Head Island, another mecca for golf fans. It doesn’t have to be a high-end resort kind of trip if you don’t want it to be, though. Go on a boat ride along the Calibogue Sound, uncover the mysteries of the “Shell Pines Sea Ring,” or just enjoy that Lowcountry lifestyle.

Eat at Charleston’s most romantic restaurants.

There’s no shortage of romantic restaurants in Charleston if you want to keep to classic date night activities.

Here are a few culinary delights to impress the pickiest foodies:

  • Hank’s Seafood Restaurant: This one feels casual despite a menu that suggests it should be more fine dining. Order any of their fish platters, but start things out with their fried green tomatoes. Reservations are recommended and available online.
  • Maison: There’s just something sensual about French food. The bistro bills itself as more casual than French fine dining, but it all still feels very much like a special occasion meal. Reservations are recommended and available online.
  • The Obstinate Daughter: The name of this eatery on Sullivan’s Island may not scream romance, but I love any place that elevates country chic. Reservations are recommended and available online.

I’ve also heard lots of folks recommend cooking classes at the Zero George Cooking School. Three-course meals come with wine pairings to up the romance factor. I haven’t been, but it sounds like a lot of fun!

Order a nightcap at Charleston’s best cocktail bars.

Two cocktails at a Charleston bar

Charleston has a vibrant cocktail bar scene, whether you’re seeking a dealer’s choice situation from your new favorite bartender or know exactly what you want.

Here are a few cocktail bar options that would make for a delightful nightcap on date night:

  • Frannie & the Fox: Frannie & the Fox has a full menu, but if you’re looking for a quick drink, this place is adorable. Sidle up to the sidebar where you can ring a little bell and get drinks through a porthole, then take those sips out on the patio.
  • Last Saint: Sip on beauties like the tequila-based Sunbonnet Fizz or Commitment Issues, a blend of mezcal and coffee liqueur. If you’re interested in a more intimate setting, the back room takes reservations for small groups.
  • Share House: I lived in San Diego for quite some time, so I’m a sucker for beach bars. Have a beach party at this place while indulging in one of their punch drinks. The Point Pleasant Punch is a mix of vodka, blue curacao, and lemon-lime soda.

Root with the locals for the Charleston RiverDogs.

Charleston doesn’t have the professional sports scene of larger cities, but locals will tell you there are rabid fans out there for the Charleston RiverDogs. 

If you love a sports date, explore Charleston by checking out the Minor League Baseball team at a home game at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park. The park is named after the city’s longest-serving mayor.

Best Hotels in Charleston for Couples

Your romantic getaway should include a stay at the best hotels in Charleston for couples. I love the idea of choosing one of Charleston’s historic inns if you’re really trying to impress.

The Andrew Pinckney Inn and the Barksdale House Inn are both great options.

Browse the map below for more. If you’re on a budget, you can stay outside of Charleston, too. That’s what we do when we’re not staying with our local friends:

Charleston will always be one of the most romantic cities.

The city is the perfect combination of ambiance, delicious restaurants, and hidden nooks for couples.

Do what you will with those hidden nooks, lovers, but I think they’re basically meant for smooching. All of that Spanish moss draping itself over the oak trees that line the main thoroughfares through town is enough to set the mood.

Traveling the South? Here are some more adventures nearby:

Here are a few more ideas for romantic getaways:

Postal icon for newsletter

Want to see more?

Subscribe to my biweekly newsletter for hot travel tips I come across, weird stories you won’t see elsewhere and perhaps lifelong friendship.

Too much, or just enough?

Photo of author

Agnes Groonwald

Agnes Groonwald is the creator of Travel on the Reg, a travel/humor blog for regular people who travel in a regular fashion. She has been to 50/50 U.S. states and explored 30+ countries, most often as a digital nomad. She's all about sharing the honest truth about travel, real experiences, and all the quirky stuff about her favorite (and not so favorite) places.